Science & Earth

Trinity Hall at Cambridge has approved a policy to approach a small number of elite private schools to encourage applications in certain subjects, and the move has prompted objections from some college academics and social mobility experts.

Fauna and Flora International published its 2026 Species to Watch list naming ten highly threatened species, with examples ranging from wild tulips to gibbons. The list highlights conservation actions and the partners working to protect these plants and animals.

Researchers at the Schmidt Ocean Institute recorded a roughly 10‑metre-long giant phantom jellyfish about 830 feet below the surface off the Argentinian coast, and the species has been documented only around 100 times.

Researchers observed four young planets around the star V1298 Tau and report they appear to be evolving into super-Earths and sub-Neptunes, the most common planet types; the work is published in Nature.

Researchers compiled a catalogue of more than 2,000 K dwarf stars within about 130 light years, using observations from observatories in Chile and Arizona.

The article outlines five practical rules for planting trees, noting winter is a suitable time to plant dormant whips and that a roughly 6‑foot cleared area around the trunk should be kept for the first three years.

Met Office warnings remain in force until Friday lunchtime while Storm Goretti is expected Thursday evening, and forecasters say the cold snap should begin to moderate from this weekend.

A Nature Communications study models Europa’s rocky seafloor and finds it is likely too mechanically strong for widespread faulting, tectonics or hydrothermal activity that on Earth supports long-term rock–water chemical reactions; NASA’s Europa Clipper will make close flybys beginning in 2031 to assess the moon’s interior and any plume chemistry.

Using city-level data from China (2004–2020) and textual analysis of 297 government work reports, the study finds that greater government environmental attention is associated with increased green technology innovation, with stronger effects in coastal, economically advanced, and highly industrialised areas.

The Met Office has issued an amber 'danger to life' warning as Storm Goretti brings gusts of around 80–90 mph to parts of South West England, with snowfall and likely disruption to travel and power supplies.

Researchers report a starless, gas-rich dark matter cloud called Cloud-9 about 14 million light-years away; Hubble observations show it contains no stars. The object matches a predicted class called Reionization-Limited H I Clouds (RELHICs) and may illustrate a halo that failed to form a galaxy.

Veterinary presenter Dr Katrina Warren says certain small or short‑coated breeds — including dachshunds, greyhounds, whippets, Italian greyhounds, chihuahuas and Chinese crested dogs — often benefit from jackets, while thick‑coated breeds such as huskies generally do not unless conditions are extremely cold.

The Met Office has issued 30-hour ice and snow warnings covering 144 areas as an Arctic air mass brings widespread icy patches and snow into Wednesday.

Some Indian farmers have begun selling dried butterfly pea flowers for tea and natural dye and report new income, while regulatory views differ: the US approved it in 2021 and the EU/UK treat it as a novel food after EFSA raised concerns in 2022.

More than 350,000 passengers have had flights cancelled at Amsterdam Schiphol during a sixth day of disruption, and KLM warned de-icing fluid stocks are under pressure. UK rail and roads are also affected, with some services suspended and the Met Office warning further snow and a deep area of low pressure from Thursday night.

Archaeologists in Norfolk found a bronze Iron Age carnyx, the third recorded in Britain; the hoard is under conservation and a coroner will decide its legal status under the Treasure Act.

A New South Wales surfer attacked by a great white in July 2024 survived but lost a leg, and a friend has organised Community SBK shark-bite kits to be installed at local beaches, funded by donations and attracting wider interest.

The Met Office warns Storm Goretti could drop up to 20cm of snow in the Midlands, and temperatures fell to around -12.5C in Marham, Norfolk.

Amber warnings are in force for parts of northern Scotland with a risk of heavy snow and blizzard conditions, while yellow warnings cover much of England, Wales and Northern Ireland; temperatures fell to around −9.3°C overnight.

An AccuWeather assessment found U.S. tornado hot spots shifted across the South and Midwest in 2025, with 1,558 reported tornadoes and 68 fatalities.

Cuba declared two days of national mourning after reporting 32 military personnel killed during the US operation that captured Venezuela's president. State media published names and headshots but officials did not detail the precise circumstances of the deaths.

The Met Office has active snow and ice warnings and temperatures are expected to fall to around −12°C in places, while weather models show a rare band of freezing rain could affect parts of northern England and southern Scotland this weekend.

Dogs Trust has issued a 'cold snap' warning as the Met Office forecast snow and ice, advising owners to keep dogs away from frozen lakes and ponds. The charity said ice can fail to support a dog's weight and warned people not to enter cold water after a pet.

The southern sky in 2026 will feature a total lunar eclipse on 3 March and a supermoon on 24 December.

Researchers analysed 2,724 long-term forest plots across Australia (1941–2023) and report a widespread increase in tree mortality; they note that carbon accounting models and a decline in long-term monitoring may misrepresent forest carbon dynamics.

Keepers at London Zoo have started the annual stocktake as the Zoological Society of London marks its 200th year, counting more than 8,000 animals and logging each creature for licensing and conservation records.

Stormont Finance Minister John O'Dowd published a draft multi-year Budget proposing allocations for 2026–2029/30, including about £26 billion for health and nearly £10 billion for education.

At COP30 in Belém, over 80 countries supported creating a formal road map to transition away from fossil fuels but oil- and gas-producing countries blocked that language from the final agreement; COP31 in late 2026 is set to revisit progress and report back.

Report states roughly 30–50% of coral reefs were lost in the last decade and warns that an El Niño expected in 2026 could push warm-water corals past a global tipping point.

The Met Office and Meteo France have issued snow and wind warnings, including a 'danger to life' wind alert, as Storm Goretti is forecast to bring up to 20 cm of snow in some locations.